Desk having extensible top section

ABSTRACT

An extensible top section for a desk of the type including a pair of spaced pedestals, a fixed top and a front modesty panel, the extensible top section comprising a pair of hinged leaf sections adapted when folded to be stored within said desk below said fixed top and overhanging the modesty panel. When the leaf sections are withdrawn and supported, the sections extend parallel to the fixed top and form a continuation of the top work surface of the desk.

United States Patent 1 Davis et a1.

[54] DESK HAVING EXTENSIBLE TOP SECTION [76] Inventors: Donald A. Davis, 50 Johnson Rd., Winchester, Mass. 01890; Gilbert M. Garte, 62 Curtis St., Egypt, Mass. 02066 [22] Filed: March 11, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 123,238

[52] US. Cl ..3l2/194, 108/127 [51] Int. Cl. ...A47b 17/00, A47b 19/00, A47b 27/00 [58] Field of Search ....312/194, 241; 108/48, 77, 78,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 485,855 11/1902 Bassett ..108/127 111 3,711,174 1 Jan.16,1973

781,415 1/1905 Glover ..108/112X 2,614,017 10/1952 Mugnier.... ..108/93 X 2,672,384 3/1954 Richards ..108/93 3,245,364 4/1966 Weinberg ..l08/l31 X 3,340,827 9/1967 Sims ..1()8/77 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney0berlin, Maky, Donnelly & Renner [57] ABSTRACT 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH 15 I973 SHEET 1 [IF 3 FIG.1

INVENTORS DONALD A. DAVIS,

GILBERT M. GARTE I 7%? fi W ZTTORNEYS DESK HAVING EXTENSIBLE TOP SECTION essentially continuous working surface which can be used for conferences and the like.

The sizes of typical executive desks have not significantly changed over the years. The design and dimensions are such as to accommodate conference purposes only for relatively few people. Where the conference involves numerous people, conference type desks areentirely satisfactory, but these are of a basically different order than the typical executive or office desk. Conference desks are normally relatively large and require a room of considerable size. They are, moreover, relatively expensive, and it it is oftentimes hard to justify the expense based on the infrequent use of the desk for conference purposes.

With the above in mind, a primaryobject of the present invention is to provide a desk having an extensible top section in the form of a pair of hinged leaf sections which in one position are stored within or contiguous the desk and in a second position are extended to form a substantially continuous work surface with the fixed top of the desk.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide such an extensible table top in which one leaf section is received within the desk in an area immediately below the fixed top, and the second leaf section is hinged to the first section and is, when the top is folded, vertically suspended in front of the modesty panel of the desk. In this manner, the desk when the leaf sections are stored closely resembles a typical executive type desk. g

A further object of the present invention is to provide an extensible desk top wherein means are provided to limit the outward sliding movement of the leaf sections relative to the fixed portions of the desk, and wherein-foldable legs are carried on the outer leaf section for movement between a stored position between such leaf section and the modesty panel and an open position in engagement with the floor thereby supporting' the leaf sections in an extended position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an extensible top section which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, and highly attractive in appearance. I v I I These and other objects will be apparent as the following description proceeds in particular reference to the application drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS extensible top being shown in an open, extended position, and the folding legs vertically disposed for supporting the leaf sections;

stop block 48 the upper end of which is received in FIG. 3 is a vertical, transverse sectional view through the desk, taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 1 of a desk modification wherein the supporting legs are in a generally horizontal spaced position when stored.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the application drawings in detail, wherein like parts are indicated by like reference numerals, and initially to FIG. 1, there is shown therein a desk generally indicated at 10 having pedestals 12 and 14 rigidly interconnected to a fixed top 16 which in the form shown extends slightly beyond the edges of the pedestals. In the usual manner, the pedestals include a plurality of outwardly slidable drawers commonly designated'at l8, and a modesty panel 20 extends along the front of the desk thereby bridging and covering the. pedestals l2 and 14. Floor engaging support members 22 and 24 extend from the bottom of the pedestals l2 and 14, respectively.

The description thus far is of a typically constructed and arranged desk. The specific shape of the drawers, supporting members,.pedestals, and the like form no part of the present invention and have been shown only to provide a clear understanding of the present improvements.

The top 16 of the desk is supported in spaced relation from the pedestals l2 and 14 by cleat-members 26 and 28, respectively, which are in the form shown disposed relatively adjacent the side edges of the top and pedestals thereby defining an area 30 for receiving the inner leaf of the extensible top when the latter is in its stored position as will be presently described.

Referring now to the top extension, generally indicated at 40, the same includes a first leaf section 42 I and a second leaf section 44 hinged thereto preferably by means ofa continuous hinge 46. The length of the leaf sections is in the form shown slightly less than the width of the leaf section 44 closely approximates the width, or vertical dimension, of the modesty panel 20.

Mounted on the inner end of the leaf section 42 is a groove 51 formed in the underside of the top 16. The front and rear ends of the groove 51 limit the movement of the inner leaf section 42 thereby preventing inadvertent withdrawal of the leaf section from the table. 1 Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, brackets 54 and 56 are mounted on the underside of the leaf 44 and pivotally connected on the brackets 54 and 56 are legs 58 and 60, respectively. The legs extend diagonally across the leaf section 44 and are notched at their point of intersection to permit folding of the legs within the confined space between the modesty panel 20 and the leaf section 44 when the same is stored as shown in FIG. 3.

Mounted on the underside of the leaf section 44 .below the brackets 54 and 56 is a catch block 61 which carries the first part 62 of a magnetic catch, the second part 64 of which is mounted on the modesty panel20 thereby to retain the leaf section 44 in a stable, vertical position when stored.

The opening and closing movement of the top extension 40 should be apparent from the application drawings and the above description. To extend the leaf sections 42 and 44, the'leaf 44 is pivoted upwardly about the axis through the hinge 46 until the section 44 is substantially horizontal and co-planar with the inner leaf section 42. The-leaf section 44 is then pulled outwardly carrying with itthe inner section 42, the sliding movement of which is confined between the cleat members 26 and 28 The outer movement is limited by the engagement of the stop block 48 with the forward end of the groove 51. When the leaf sections are so withdrawn, the legs 58 and 60 are folded downwardly to an open, support position, as shown in FIG. 2, thereby supporting the leaf sections relatively adjacent the outer end of the leaf section 44. The inner end of the leaf section 42 of course remains supported by the fixed desk frame.

To collapse and store the leaf sections 42 and 44, substantially the reverse procedure is followed. The. legs 58 and 60 are folded contiguous tothe underside of the leaf section 44. The leaf sections 42 and 44, while still co-planar, are slid rearwardly until the stop block 48 engages the rearward end of the groove 51. The leaf section 44 can then be dropped from its horizontal to its vertical position as shown in FIG. 3,

and retained in such position by the magnetic catch '62, 64.

An alternative form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. in which legs 70 and 72 are disposed generally horizontally and pivotally mounted on brackets 74 and 76, respectively, mounted on the outer leaf section 78. This arrangement is possible only when the pedestals '12 and 14 are spaced sufficiently apart to accomrrlodate the full length of the legs 70 and 72.

The desk and top extension can be formed of any suitable material. Wood is preferred and where plywood is employed, the exposed sides and edges thereof may be mortised and members of finished solid wood material mounted thereon thereby to provide an attractive yet durable edge surface.

Although the dimensions of the desk and leaf sections 42 ancl 44 form no part of the present invention, typical dimensions serve to emphasize the significance of the present invention. The desk shown in the application drawings is approximately 5 feet in length and slightly less than 3O inches in width when the leaf sections are folded and stored as shown in FIG. 3. With the leaf sections open and extended, as shown in FIG. 2, the overall width of the fixed top 16 and the leaf sections 42 and 44 is between 6 and 6 rt feet. These dimensions provide a substantial top working surface,.

above description will suggest themselves, without,

however, departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the claims appended hereto.

For example, the extensioncould be used in comment, the side of the extension spaced from the single pedestal would be slidably supported by the overhanging side panel of the desk.

We claim:

1. In combination with a desk of the type having at least one pedestal, a fixed top and a modesty panel at the front of said desk, the improvement comprising:

a. an extensible top section comprising first and second leaf sections hinged along their adjoining edges, said first leaf section when said extensible top section is folded and stored being disposed below said fixed top and supported at its sides for sliding movement, said second leaf section when stored hanging vertically at the front of said desk over said modesty panel and effectively-providing a'false modesty panel, said second'leaf section when lifted upwardly to a generally horizontal position permitting sliding outwardmovement of both said first and second leaf sections to a position wherein both of said leaf sections are planar and generally parallel to said fixed table top'to form -a continuation of the work surface. of said fixed top,

. m'earis for limiting outward movement of said first and second leaf sections to prevent complete withdrawal thereof from .the'desk, comprising a stop block carried by said first ieaf section and adapted to ride in a groove formed in the underside of said fixed top, the forward end of said groove being engaged by said stop block when said leaf sections have been withdrawn to their outermost position thereby preventing complete withdrawal of said leaf sections from said desk, means mounting a pair of folding legs on the underside of said second leaf section relatively adjacent the outermost end thereof, said legs being section in a vertical, suspended position in spaced relation to said modesty panel when said extensible top is stored.

. means for positively maintaining said second leaf 

1. In combination with a desk of the type having at least one pedestal, a fixed top and a modesty panel at the front of said desk, the improvement comprising: a. an extensible top section comprising first and second leaf sections hinged along their adjoining edges, said first leaf section when said extensible top section is folded and stored being disposed below said fixed top and supported at its sides for sliding movement, said second leaf section when stored hanging vertically at the front of said desk over said modesty panel and effectively providing a false modesty panel, said second leaf section when lifted upwardly to a generally horizontal position permitting sliding outward movement of both said first and second leaf sections to a position wherein both of said leaf sections are planar and generally parallel tO said fixed table top to form a continuation of the work surface of said fixed top, b. means for limiting outward movement of said first and second leaf sections to prevent complete withdrawal thereof from the desk, comprising a stop block carried by said first leaf section and adapted to ride in a groove formed in the underside of said fixed top, the forward end of said groove being engaged by said stop block when said leaf sections have been withdrawn to their outermost position thereby preventing complete withdrawal of said leaf sections from said desk, c. means mounting a pair of folding legs on the underside of said second leaf section relatively adjacent the outermost end thereof, said legs being adapted to be folded to a vertical position when said leaf sections are open and extended, thereby firmly supporting said extensible top section, and d. means for positively maintaining said second leaf section in a vertical, suspended position in spaced relation to said modesty panel when said extensible top is stored. 